Where: IS Latin room 187/Cindy's house
Bring Computers
Agenda:
Whole group:
Announcements- thank yous,TLC pilot, IS club pilot, GPAC integrations, ACTFL attendance, share summer plans- conferences, etc.
CC initiatives financial literacy, grading, GOA
GOA- who manages it?
Goes into block schedule. One of the six classes. Only offer some. Only seniors. Graduation requirement- but not toward department. GOA will be on transcript. We pay membership and Potomac pays per course.
Small group:
Shares on Interpersonal, Interpretive and Presentational lessons- what was your best lesson this year and why?
Team time/Individual:
What did national exams tell you? Share with Diana
Finish/Share WL Cultural Overview 2019 (team drive)
Hand in a Red Flag list if you haven’t yet
End of year survey (bring computers)
End of year survey (bring computers)
(US Book orders, Course Appeals, Look over 2019-20 teaching sections)
Feedback Survey CLICK HERECindy's house for an Apero, Aperitivo, 开胃酒 !
Vista Higher Learning Webinars Link
Cult of Pedagogy- Jennifer Gonzalez
It's almost summer, and that means lots of you are thinking about ways to improve your practice. Here are four incredible online courses* for your consideration, starting with my own:
1.
JumpStart: A Technology Course for Thoughtful Educators
Instructor: Jennifer Gonzalez
By guiding you through a series of hands-on projects, this course gives you the confidence and skills to make smart choices about the tech you use in your teaching. The self-paced Basic version of the course is open all year round, but JumpStart Plus, which adds an online community, a team of mentors, and a calendar of deadlines to keep you on track, opens just five times a year. Our June cohort is open for enrollment right now! Learn more here.
2.
Student Motivation Course
Instructor: Dave Stuart, Jr.
What would it be like if, every time you asked your students to do something, they all did it, and they did it with care, engagement, and effort? In this course, Dave shares what he's learned from tons of research and his own classroom practice. You'll also join a community of hundreds of positive-minded teachers who have taken the course and share their best practices. The course is open year-round, but summer is a great time to get laser-focused on what really motivates your students! Learn more here.
3.
The 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club
Instructor: Angela Watson
This club has helped tens of thousands of overwhelmed teachers get their lives into balance. If you've thought about leaving teaching because the rest of your life is getting the short end of the stick, you need to check out this year-long, life-changing club. Early bird access opens June 15. Learn more here.
4.
Google Certification Academies
Instructor: Kasey Bell of Shake Up Learning
Although you can use Google tools perfectly well without ever getting any kind of certification, pursuing certification has significant professional benefits. Google expert Kasey Bell offers training for three different levels of Google certification in her online academies. The courses only open twice a year, and one of those times is this week: Enrollment starts May 21.Learn more here.
CONFERENCES
There’s still time to register for unparalleled professional development with NAIS. These in-person programs bring you training and peer networks to grow your skills and support you at all points in your career.
Whether you want to build your leadership skills, deepen your equity and justice practices, or improve how your leadership team and board function, NAIS has the training for you.
Equity Design Lab: Grading for Equity
July 8–9
Nashville, TN
Equity Design Lab: Grading for Equity
July 8–9
Nashville, TN
Institute for New Heads
July 8–14
Atlanta, GA
July 8–14
Atlanta, GA
Please visit the NAIS website to get complete details about each program and to register. Questions? Contact us at institutes@nais.org.
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Summer 2019
 CARLA linkAnnouncements
CARLA Program Updates
CARLA Resources
CARLA @ Conferences
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VA Governor's Schools:
Below is a list of summer PD opportunities for world language teachers Please share widely within your networks and encourage your teachers to sign up now. Some sessions are near capacity, and others have lots of space. There is no limit to the number of participants from each division or region, however, preference will be given to balance regional representation and then by registration date for the remaining slots. Teachers from Virginia K-12 Private schools are also welcome.
Professional Development Opportunities for World Language Teachers
The following professional development opportunities will be available to teachers of world languages in summer 2019. Register for each session at the link provided in the session descriptions. Individuals may register for more than one event, however; please note that successfully submitting the registration form does not guarantee acceptance. Spaces are limited and every effort will be made to balance regional and language representation in each session. Preference will be given to early applicants by region and language group.
Innovative Pedagogy and Resources for Teachers of French
“Learning and Teaching with the redesigned TV5Monde website” by Guy Vandenbroucke is a one day workshop offered by the French Embassy with a certified trainer from TV5 and is open to all public, private, and university French teachers K-16 in Virginia and neighboring states. Participants in this workshop will learn the best teaching practices in using audio-visual documents; explore the redesigned ‘TV5Monde’ website and its resources; learn how to teach media literacy; and learn how to create web-based game activities to enhance teaching. Register online for the June 18 session.
· June 18, 2019, Eastern Recreation Center, Henrico. Registration is first come, first served to the first 40 applicants. Remaining applicants will be placed on a waiting list.
· June 19, 2019, Embassy of France, Washington D.C. Contact Heather Seeley at the Embassy of France for registration information for the Washington D.C. session. (Deadline to RSVP for this session is May 31.)
Language Teacher Immersion Academies
A two-day full immersion experience designed for teachers of French, German, and Spanish who want to expand their personal language proficiency. The teacher Academy will run parallel with the student immersion Academies and includes an opportunity for teachers to interact with the full-immersion Academies’ students and teachers. An additional strand for Latin teachers is still in development and will be announced soon. Preference will be given to early applicants by region and language group. For the Latin strand, preference will be given to those who pre-register their interest pending the opening of the official registration. Register online by June 7 for the WLU session or to pre-register interest in the Latin session.
· July 8-10, 2019: French, German, Spanish strands at Washington and Lee University (WLU), Lexington, VA.
· Latin: Dates and location TBA
Deeper Learning with Digital Tools - Increasing Student Access and Interaction with Authentic Resources
You don’t want to miss this one! This two-day workshop will be held in two regional locations. The training will be open to up to 90 teachers across the two sites (app. 45 teachers per site). Attendees will receive training and full access (teacher and student accounts) toThisIsLanguage.com, LinguaFolio® Online, and other digital tools to increase student access and interaction with authentic resources. Register online by June 7 to indicate your choice of location. Preference will be given to early applicants by region.
· July 11-12, 2019, SWVA Higher Education Center, Abingdon (Washington County)
· August 9-10, 2019, CTC Hull, Chesterfield
Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities in the World Language Classroom
Presented as a collaborative session from the Office of Special Education Services and the Office of Humanities, this one day workshop is intended for teachers, supervisors, and specialists in world languages and special education. The workshop will include a keynote and breakout sessions designed to address the unique challenges of meeting the needs of diverse learners in the world language classroom.
· July 19, 2019 in Richmond.
· Registration is first come, first served for the first 150 registrants.
Annual Meeting 2020
3-5 APRIL 2020
Hilton Washington Dulles Airport
Hilton Washington Dulles Airport
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AATF ANNUAL CONVENTION: July 14-17, 2019
“Le Français à Philadelphie: Interculturalité dans la ville de l’amour fraternel”
- Preliminary convention Information for Philadelphia
- Preliminary program
- Convention registration (Registration also in store)
- 2019 Call for Exhibitors
- Testimonial from Saint Louis convention
- 2019 Exhibitor Page
- Archives of Past Book Clubs (2005-2012)
- Archives of Past Programs (1998-2018)
- Highlights of Past Conventions (2003-2018)
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The American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) is the United States’ leading organization in serving educators to support the teaching and learning of Spanish and Portuguese (K-16+). We provide a forum for instructors from the U.S. and abroad during our AATSP Annual Conference that includes over 300 events during 3 1/2 days of discussions, workshops, sessions, exhibits, speeches, and awards that reflect trends, interests, and the needs of educators.
Highlights in this year’s 101st Annual Conference include the 75th anniversary of Portuguese joining the Association, and the Centennial celebration of Sigma Delta Pi—the National Collegiate Hispanic Society. The topics of this year’s conference include (but are not limited to) innovative curriculum, assessments and credentials, languages and the professions, languages and communities, languages and humane education, heritage language instruction and learning, and advocating for Spanish and Portuguese.
Click here for information about our Keynote.
Click here for information about our Plenary.
Click here for 2019 Program At A Glance.
ONLINE REGISTRATION OPEN THROUGH JUNE 7, 2019(Early Bird Deadline Extended through April 15, 2019)
 | July 8-11, 2019
Town and Country Hotel
San Diego, California
CONFERENCE THEME
Stronger Together: Spanish and Portuguese
Juntos más fuertes: el español y el portugués Juntos mais fortes: o espanhol e o português |
May 2019
Member Matters
Dear Member School partners,
Typically we highlight the opportunities made possible by studying abroad — language learning, host family life or study travel trips. A topic that is less often discussed, and that defines the success of each of these experiences, is the support network that makes these experiences possible. This year, SYA reinvigorated our advisory program to encourage our students to go farther than they ever thought possible.
The advisory program kicked off before students even arrived in their new host cities, with online modules leading students through units on culture shock and intercultural competency. Once on campus, students met with their advisory group to probe topics and explore skills to match the student experience. Topics included goal-setting, homesickness and skills to prepare for capstone projects. As we head into the final weeks of the school year, students are launching a unit on re-entry, preparing them for their next great adventure: returning home. With an advisory program that mirrors the experience month to month and intentionally prepares students for the challenges of transitioning to and from a year abroad, our students have been better equipped and more supported than ever to take on new challenges throughout the year and to successfully bring their skills and experiences home to your schools.
An enhanced advisory program is just one of many areas of program development at SYA. Our first-ever Conference on Teaching and Learning Abroad at our Zaragoza campus last summer helped accelerate the pace of curricular innovation, and we are looking ahead to our second annual conference this June at our Viterbo campus. These multi-day professional development opportunities allow faculty across our four campuses to collaborate and develop new skills for the upcoming school year.
I invite you to stay up-to-date on our progress and keep a pulse on opportunities for Member School faculty and staff through this bi-annual newsletter, Member Matters, as well as in our community-wide, monthly newsletter, News and Views. And, with a full appreciation for the value of firsthand experience, we offer a Travel Grant program for Member School faculty and staff to travel to our campuses and learn about our programs firsthand. This year alone, nine Member School faculty and staff traveled to our campuses through our Travel Grant Program (read more, below).
As always, thank you for your partnership. I hope you enjoy this issue of Member Matters, and I look forward to connecting with you soon.
Best wishes for an enjoyable summer,
Tom Hassan
SYA President
P.S. - The image above is part of a larger photo essay capturing the 2018-2019 school year at SYA's four campuses, available here.
Member School faculty visit SYA
SYA offers travel grants to Member School employees, providing funds to visit SYA campuses and see the power of the SYA experience firsthand. This year, SYA awarded nine Travel Grants to Member School faculty. Here's what St. Mark's School Classics Department Chair Jeanna Cook had to say about the experience:
"What a privilege it was to be given the opportunity to visit the students, faculty, and families of SYA Italy! From the moment that I arrived in the courtyard of the school palazzo to my final coffee with the SYA faculty, I was well aware that I had entered a realm of harmonious contrast. SYA Italy was a familiar school environment, but at the same time completely different than any school I have ever observed. The students were relaxed and comfortable, but they took responsibility for their own learning. The teachers were supportive and caring, yet they challenged their students to operate independently — The curriculum was as much about the setting and the skills needed for success within it, as it was about learning for the joy of learning."
Stay tuned for an email from Whitney Hermann ES'85 this fall explaining how to apply for a Travel Grant for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Adult Enrichment Courses
This summer, Member School faculty will join alumni, parents and friends of SYA for one of two adult enrichment seminars taught by SYA faculty: Cultural Heritage in France and Geopolitics in Spain. We hope you will consider joining us in June 2020 (details coming this fall). Here is what past participants are saying about our Adult Enrichment programs:
"I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and studies in Zaragoza. I have participated in three other summer teacher workshops over the last 10 years (Cuernavaca and Oxford Barcelona) and this summer was, by far, my best experience."
"I loved everything — practicing Spanish, the lectures, the community, spending time in Zaragoza and even the activities not connected to the class, the tapas, the wine tasting, the cooking class."
"I have been a student of Spanish for over 25 years and a teacher for 16, and this week was one of the most meaningful language and cultural experiences I have ever had. I can't recommend it enough."
Member School Students in the Spotlight
This year, 86 Member School students attended one of our four campuses. From capstones to educational travel to host family experiences, your students immersed themselves in a new culture, broadening their perspectives and making strides in language proficiency. Thirteen Member School students volunteered as Campus Reporters, sharing their experience through blogs and videos. Below are featured samples of their work:
Liam R. CN'19, The Bishop's School
"Being in the countryside for long periods of time has not only helped me to understand how drastic the differences in Chinese lifestyles are, but it has also allowed me to open my eyes to the authentic happiness that many Chinese have."
Kurumi S. IT'19, Spence School
"Rome MUN was definitively the most academically challenging yet rewarding experience at SYA thus far, while encouraging a social life as we bonded with the small group of students from SYA and our teachers, as well as undergraduate and graduate students from all over Europe and the Middle East."
Lili S. ES'19, Sidwell Friends
"My electives, although challenging in the beginning because they are in Spanish, have added infinitely to my year here in Spain. I love that SYA offers more than the typical American high school classes, instead branching out to explore subjects we could really only learn in Spain."
Jina Z. ES'19, The Thacher School
"Being in the Pyrenees with my [host] family brought out all my feelings of gratitude for them. It's hard to put into words how much love and appreciation I have for these people I've only known for a few months, or how incredible it is that they've welcomed me into their home and treated me like their daughter and sister."
Highlights: School News 2018-2019
A new offering designed and taught by Antonio López Piña, Applied Sociology: Spain and Street-Level Politics, puts students at the center of their learning through experiential, place-based education.
SYA partnered with Global Online Academy to ensure faculty are on the forefront of competency-based learning.
Follow along with SYA Italy students as they learn outside the walls of the classroom, immerse themselves in the local culture and connect with host families during this life-changing experience.
One month into the school year, Head of Schools and Programs Dr. Aric Visser wrote a letter to our current parents. You might be surprised by what he has to say about the SYA experience and his single request for SYA students today.
When this year's cheese making experience failed, Resident Director Pat Scanlon saw an opportunity to leverage the outcome as a learning opportunity. Putting their knowledge of cheese making to the test, Scanlon asked students to design an experiment to identify what went wrong.
Step inside Pascal Montéville's political science classroom to get the inside scoop on current events in France.
On May 16, SYA will launch The Campaign for SYA at the United Nations in New York. The campaign goals include expanding access for students, securing mentors and thought leaders in our classrooms, accelerating learning innovation for the education and experience we provide, and, ultimately, growing the capacity for sustained excellence across all of our campuses.
The Year in Photos
Take a visual tour through a year at SYA's four campuses, made possible by talented faculty and student photographers.
Paw Prints News
Collaboration!
After one of our last meetings- Esther and Tricia realized they were teaching the same topic and the the US could come down to MS for a field trip! Take a look at their sharing!
Las casas de MS- activity
STUDYING SPANISH CROSS-DIVISIONALLY
As a way of promoting academic exchange across divisions, Spanish students in the Upper School recently visited a fifth grade Spanish class. The younger students shared projects they'd been working on – assignments in which they designed their ideal homes and described them in Spanish. The older students then used the Spanish vocabulary featured in the projects to work on their own writing and oral assignments. The fifth graders were very proud that the US students were inspired by their work!
LE DÎNER EN BLANCJunior and senior French students celebrated friendship and enjoyed good food while practicing the art of conversation during "un dîner en blanc." A tradition that began 30 years ago in Paris, this event is now held worldwide (there will be one this summer in DC). A hallmark of all "dinners in white" is the fact that the location isn't revealed until the last minute, resulting in a pop-up affair that creates a true sense of magic for the participants. Students received a text that directed them to the surprise location. After sharing some delicious food, the Potomac participants added a twist to the event – dancing together!
ADVANCED FRENCH STUDENTS WELCOME HAITIAN VISITOR
In late April, students in Ms. Searchinger's Advanced French Studies class discussed Haitian history and culture with U.S. Patent Judge Jean Homère. The students asked Mr. Homère questions in French about his experience growing up in Haiti under the Duvalier regime before joining the U.S. Haitian diaspora at age 17. In addition to teaching the class about popular Haitian holidays, customs, and kompa music, Mr. Homère reflected on some of the current challenges faced by his native island, such as the question of restitution and Haiti's efforts to move from an economy of aid to an economy of trade.
ADVANCED FRENCH STUDENTS WELCOME HAITIAN VISITOR
In late April, students in Ms. Searchinger's Advanced French Studies class discussed Haitian history and culture with U.S. Patent Judge Jean Homère. The students asked Mr. Homère questions in French about his experience growing up in Haiti under the Duvalier regime before joining the U.S. Haitian diaspora at age 17. In addition to teaching the class about popular Haitian holidays, customs, and kompa music, Mr. Homère reflected on some of the current challenges faced by his native island, such as the question of restitution and Haiti's efforts to move from an economy of aid to an economy of trade.
In Chinese class, students practiced various techniques of traditional
Chinese calligraphy and art. They used ink and straw/mouth to draw
cherry blossoms. Happy Mother's Day 母亲节快乐!
Chinese calligraphy and art. They used ink and straw/mouth to draw
cherry blossoms. Happy Mother's Day 母亲节快乐!
PRACTICING CALLIGRAPHY
In Chinese class, students practiced various techniques of traditional Chinese calligraphy and art. In celebration of Mother's Day, they drew cherry blossoms. 母亲节快乐 (Happy Mother's Day)!
LATIN STUDENTS EARN COMMENDATION FOR NATIONAL EXAMS
Many US students earned recognition for their strong results on the National Latin Exam this year. To receive a summa cum laude award and gold medal, students must score at or above the national 90th percentile. A total of 12 of Potomac's Latin students achieved this high distinction, and many more students earned maxima cum laude (silver medal), magna cum laude, and cum laude awards. Our gold-medal winners were Yanna Bravewolf '22, Dana Christopher '21, Genevieve Evans '22, Akshay Gupta '20, Hadley Husisian '22, Brennan Kalinowski '21, Damien Kanner-Bitetti '21, Taya Lasota '20, Elizabeth Oskoui '21, Katie Rebhan '21, Josh Shapiro '22, and TJ Takis '22.
Two of these students earned special distinctions. Approximately 130,000 students took the exam this year, and Hadley Husisian was among the small group of students who achieved a perfect score. Damien Kanner-Bitetti won his fourth gold medal in four consecutive years; he was awarded an Oxford Classical Dictionary by the American Classical League in recognition of this impressive accomplishment.
Two of these students earned special distinctions. Approximately 130,000 students took the exam this year, and Hadley Husisian was among the small group of students who achieved a perfect score. Damien Kanner-Bitetti won his fourth gold medal in four consecutive years; he was awarded an Oxford Classical Dictionary by the American Classical League in recognition of this impressive accomplishment.
SPANISH STUDENTS HIT THE DANCE FLOOR
Last week, the Upper School Spanish students in Dr. Bello's classes and the Middle School students in Ms. Morgan's class came together for a salsa and bachata dance lesson. Marcelo Troncoso from DMV Dance in Bethesda was on hand to teach the steps. He has studied and taught dance in both California and the Dominican Republic – which is the home of the bachata tradition. The students really enjoyed this cross-divisional cultural experience!
CELEBRATING A YEAR OF FRENCH
Eighth grade French students said au revoir to the IS with a surprise celebratory lunch after final exams, in recognition of their hard work. Reading the menu was a snap after their restaurant vocabulary unit. (If you need a recommendation, our gourmets can tell you all about savory galettes, croque monsieurs, and macarons!) Bon appétit!
The 7th Spanish Advanced class helped Potomac senior Michael Grae
with his senior project. Michael wanted to learn as much Spanish as
possible to be conversant in two weeks. He shared with the group
outside tools and strategies. Lastly, the class gave Michael a final oral
test by asking him level one questions. What a great way to end the
school year!
with his senior project. Michael wanted to learn as much Spanish as
possible to be conversant in two weeks. He shared with the group
outside tools and strategies. Lastly, the class gave Michael a final oral
test by asking him level one questions. What a great way to end the
school year!
